Adjustable Seating & Self-Regulation Tools for Students w/Special Ed Needs
Help me give my students with special education needs adjustable seating, fidgets and sensory items for increased self-regulation.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Conners's classroom raised $695
This project is fully funded
My Students
Frankly, my students are awesome. They are resilient, creative, loving and passionate. My students live in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. The area receives a lot of news coverage about crime, gangs, drugs and poverty. Yes, these factors are ever present in my students' lives more so than in other areas of our city/state/nation. More than 97% of the students that attend our school fall in the "low-income" range. But my students are much more than that. The families deeply care about their children and the neighborhood. Families participate in family night, parents attend report card pick up, fathers take their daughters to the Father/Daughter dance and most importantly, our students come to school.
Our attendance rate is over 96%.
Why is that important? Despite the hurdles my students face such as witnessing violence, being exposed to trauma and living in situations in which necessities like food and regular shelter are not always a given, they come to school. They are eager to learn. They are motivated to succeed. They show pride in who they are.
My Project
In 2017, I completed my first Donor's Choose project to aimed at increasing on-task behavior, engagement in learning and regulation of emotions which has since been expanded to a school-wide initiative through the use of Calm Corners and Cool Down Boxes. This project is aimed at replacing some of those items and adding additional tools for students with special education needs for their general education classrooms.
The use of adjustable seating, fidgets and self-regulation aids are evidence based interventions widely used in classrooms and benefits all students.
These materials I am seeking for my students provide something the same type of stimulation & self-regulation in an age appropriate and engaging way. For example, wobble chairs provide students an opportunity to gain movement and engage their core while staying seated and not disrupting the class. Fidgets encourage movement and comfort so that students can be kinesthetically engaged while sitting. Squeeze balls and fidgets in a designated area of the the classroom provide a safe space for a student to calm and appropriately externalize their feelings rather than hitting another student.
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology demonstrated that children, especially those with ADHD, needed to fidget more when a task required them to store and process information in their working memory. Another 2011 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that for one first grade class, teachers surveyed noted that students who used alternative seating options were more alert & attentive and demonstrated less disruptive behavior.
Please help me in providing evidenced based materials to my students so that they can increase their attention and engagement in both their general education and special education classes.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Kore Teen Active Chair - 18.7" H
Color: Dark Green
• Teachers' School Supply
$67.75
2
$135.50
YOGU Inflated Air Stability Wobble Cushion w Air Pump Anti-Burst Wiggle Seat Toxin-Free Inflatable Exercise Fitness Core Balance Disc for Better Seating (Blue 3 Pack)
• Amazon Business
$43.99
1
$43.99
BALL TRANSPARENT YUCK-E-BALL
• School Specialty
$10.43
4
$41.72
PUTTY THERAPUTTY SCENTED SOFT RED CHERRY 1 LB
• School Specialty
$36.91
1
$36.91
MASSAGE BALL - 3.6 IN - RED
• School Specialty
$3.97
8
$31.76
PUTTY THERAPUTTY 1LB BLUE
• School Specialty
$22.71
1
$22.71
Pure Origins | Motivational Stress Balls | Gift 6 Pack | Fidget Accessory for Stress Relief, Special Needs, Concentration, Anxiety, Motivation, ADHD, ADD, Autism and Team Building (Coral)
• Amazon Business
$16.99
1
$16.99
Shark Tooth Chew Necklace for Kids, Boys or Girls - Chewing Necklace Teething Necklace Teether Necklace Chew Toys Teething Toys - Designed for Chewing, Autism, Autism Sensory Teether Toy (3 Pack)
• Amazon Business
$15.97
1
$15.97
Chewable Necklace Set (4 Packs) - Silicone Chewy, ADHD, Early, Autistic, Biting, Chewing Toys for Boys and Girls，Gift
• Amazon Business
$12.98
1
$12.98
TIMERS 5 MINUTE SAND - SMALL PACK OF 4
• School Specialty
$4.75
2
$9.50
Materials cost
$503.69
Vendor shipping charges
$48.72
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$7.56
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$589.97
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$104.11
Total project goal
$694.08
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$694.08
15 Donors
-$540.56
Donations toward project cost
-$462.48
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$78.08
match offer
-$150.00
Match offer toward project cost
-$127.50
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Conners and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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